Man develops 3D printing prosthetic arm for people in poor countries

Guillermo was always curious about 3D printing and started creating his own devices in 2017 after he got his own 3D printer. He began watching tutorials on YouTube to know more about this technology so that he could start developing his own gadgets.

"I started making many 3D-printed hand prostheses for fun. Then I thought to myself, 'what if this can actually help someone?' I had already prepared my trip to Kenya and I contacted the NGO Bamba Project, as well as one of the orphanages that operate in Kenya. I didn't think I was going to find anyone”, he explained.

Then he started getting messages from people from Kenya asking him for a prosthesis. That led to the creation of the project Ayúdame3D.

"I went there, tested out the prostheses, and saw that people were getting to grips with it quickly after using it. It felt great. I considered stopping there, but I loved the feeling of being able to help others so much that I decided to start Ayúdame3D”, the inventor observed.

The gadgets the engineer develops have a production cost of $50 and allow the users to grasp and hold objects up to 10 kgs in weight.

He launched a crowdfunding campaign to help expand the project. "I opened a website where people could make donations online. The website showcased what the project was capable of achieving and how I wanted to further develop it. Then I started contacting people who would be able to help me, like NGOs, investors, and the media”.

Up to January 2019, Guillermo has delivered 50 prostheses to countries all over the world. He hopes to set up a worldwide network.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2lHnHSf

More info: https://www.facebook.com/ayudame3D/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfxnWqdCjco